Part 9
Evie

She couldn't ignore the Inquisition any longer. It had been weeks before she finally let anyone out of her inner circle see her, lest her emotions give her away. She had to get out of Skyhold proper and make it into the courtyards, the gardens… outside.

She wandered into her dressing room, and slid into something official, but still comfortable to her still slightly bruised body. She found a set of her older mage robes and slid them on. She tugged at the neckline - it was tighter than she remembered - before fumbling with her belt. She brushed her short hair and tied it back into it's usual ponytail. When she emerged, Cullen was waiting for her.

"It's time for me to go back out, Cullen."

"It is. I am sure everyone is anxious to see you out and about."

"I'm really scared." Her voice was almost childlike. Cullen took her hand gently and sat down on the couch with her.

"It is scary. What you have been through is scary. And the thought that people may figure things out is exceptionally scary." He touched her cheek. "And you are allowed to be scared. You are still a person like the rest of us. No one expects you to not feel anything."

She looked down at her hands, then up at him. "How will I move on? I'll never be able to sleep at night out there."

"You just… will. You will figure it out somehow. You are stronger than you know, in more ways than one." He closed his eyes for a second. "Can I give you some advice? I mean… as someone who knows what sleepless nights are like?"

Evie drew in a breath. All these weeks it's been about me. What I will do. How I will get by. What about Cullen? "Maker's breath. Cullen. Cullen, how have you been these last few weeks? Have there been any nightmares? Have there been-"

"If there had been a problem, I wouldn't have stayed," he shrugged.

If I can throw myself into the problems, I won't have to deal - The thought was cut short by Cullen. "Besides," he continued, "These weeks haven't been about me."

"I don't want to make it all about me." Evie snapped. Instantly, she felt bad. She didn't mean to yell at him. "Sorry. I didn't mean to… I just… I need something else to think about. I need to be busy again." She stood up from the couch and walked to the top of the stairs, before hesitating. "Cullen…" she paused. " Thank you for protecting the Inquisition, and Skyhold, and… just… thank you."

And with that, she held her head up to face the Inquisition, and took off down the stairs.